Comments on: Life: Choose Your Own Adventure

By: Ali

Ali — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:49:05 +0000

Lela, I do realise how tough some people have it (I live in South London and there’s a lot of very visible poverty here). It makes me angry that it’s even possible, in 21st century Britain, for people to end up sleeping on the streets.

I guess I wrote this blog post in the knowledge that most of my readers will, like me, and like you say, be “extraordinarily privileged”. If you’ve got an internet connection and the ability to find my blog, you’re probably doing quite well. Perhaps I was being too hopeful in the piece, though; I realise not everyone *does* have friends or family to fall back on. My apologies if it came across as glib or offensive in any way, that certainly wasn’t my intention. I usually try to push quite a strong point in articles here, because I think that’s more powerful than always offering a very balanced view.

By: Lela

Lela — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:19:24 +0000

HI Ali…..I really enjoy reading your blog. I must agree with Fern however. And if you don’t think that destitution is a reality for scores of people, then just venture over to the poor neighborhoods and do some volunteer work, or go into one of the schools and talk to the teachers there about the children they work with, or go to a hospital in a poor are……need I go on? The destitute are in our streets, in our backyards.
No need to go to……..fill in the blank, whatever poor part of the world you can think of. It’s all right here in the good ole USA!
You are not just privileged, but extraordinarily privileged. In terms of history, past and present, and if you compare yourself with a vast percentage of people living on this earth today……don’t think it’s something that everyone shares.
It’s great that you’ve met with considerable success and you certainly deserve credit for your hard work. But it is very different taking risks with someone/think to fall back on, and taking risks when there is no one and nothing to fall back on, a reality for so many people. So don’t be so glib about doubting that some of your readers might be amongst those who don’t have the social networks you assume everyone does…..
Anyway……keep up the good work, good luck on the other writing projects.

By: Maik

Maik — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:47:21 +0000

Sometimes it can be really good to see the really bad things that happen on earth. When I see the bad things I feel better immediately.
Maik´s last blog ..Hypnosis Stories

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:18:24 +0000

Some food for thought there, Fern – thank you.

Thankfully, my worst-case scenario was never a reality. I’d have HATED to ask my parents to bail me out, and if they had done, I’d've done everything in my power to pay them back!

I’m lucky, and I’m very grateful for that. I am very priviledged compared to many people, and I recognise that for others, decisions are far harder. I’d question whether true destitution is likely in most cases, though.

I agree that as I get older, I’m sure I’ll find that certain paths close off or become much harder. I hope that others will open up, though – whether through new friendships, through financial investments, or through acquiring new skills. I certainly make no pretence to have all the answers, which is why I love to have different opinions, points of view and stories in the comments. So thanks for chiming in!

By: fern

fern — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:16:57 +0000

I think you also need to to think about ‘what’s the worst that happen’ for other people. For example, you might have a fabulous support network with parents happy to open their arms (and wallets) to bail you out, but why should they? If a friend quits a job to become a pro-surfer then spends six months living on your sofa it’s a great decision for him, but a huge inconvenience for you. It’s great to define ‘what’s the worst that could happen’, but you need to think further than your narrow bubble of priviledge. For many peopkle the worst that can happen is destitution. For others, the choice to go to work every day is actually the most difficult option – because self-sustainability is all they havet. As you get older it becomes impossible to turn back those decisions. Wait til you have something of substance, wait til you’ve really been pushed into a corner, then write about how you made it work. Quitting your job safe in the knowledge that your parents will bail you out is one of (if not the) safest option there is.

By: How To Actively Take Control of Your Time and Your Life

How To Actively Take Control of Your Time and Your Life — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:39:41 +0000

[...] on my todo list, and actively choose what I want to do with each moment. As Ali Hale says – choose your life, choose your own adventure: “Rather than opting for the easiest choice, or the one which you think you “should” do, [...]

By: Anita

Anita — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:12:11 +0000

Great post! Way to encourage people to live their lives to the fullest! I have been so much happier and relaxed since making a big change in my life. It’s wonderful! Like you, I also like helping others through my blog. Take care, A.

By: How to Think Yourself Free | steve-olson.com

How to Think Yourself Free | steve-olson.com — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:50:17 +0000

[...] getting more from life on her blog, Aliventures: if you enjoyed this post, you’ll probably enjoy Life: Choose Your Own Adventure. Ali is also a freelance blogger for a number of other sites, and is taking a postgraduate degree [...]

By: Thursday is Links day! | Swiftkickinthe.com

Thursday is Links day! | Swiftkickinthe.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:02:46 +0000

[...] Ali Hale presents Life: Choose Your Own Adventure posted at Aliventures, saying, “Do you feel like life’s boring, tedious or a struggle? [...]

By: Ali

Ali — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:56:07 +0000

Wow, Steve, that really puts some of my previous “problems” in perspective! What you say reminds me of Orwell’s “Down and Out in Paris and London” — I think it’s in there that he says there’s something liberating about hitting bottom, when you just focus on survival.

Glad things have worked out for you!